Presidency debunks viral claim of change in Tinubu’s Chief of Staff

The Presidency has firmly dismissed as false a viral report circulating on social media which claims that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has replaced his Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, with his Principal Private Secretary, Hakeem Muri-Okunola.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, December 25, 2025, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, described the report as a complete fabrication and urged Nigerians to disregard it in its entirety.

According to the Presidency, there has been no change in the leadership of the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, remains firmly in his position as Chief of Staff, while Hakeem Muri-Okunola continues to serve as the President’s Principal Private Secretary

“The viral claim suggesting that Hakeem Muri-Okunola has replaced Femi Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff is entirely untrue,” the statement said. “Both officials remain in their respective roles, and there has been no such reshuffling or replacement.”

The Presidency further noted that the false report was deliberately concocted by individuals bent on spreading fake news and sowing discord within the government.

It warned that the spread of unverified information, especially on sensitive governance issues, has the potential to mislead the public and undermine confidence in public institutions

Mr. Onanuga reiterated the commitment of the Tinubu administration to transparency and accurate information, while calling on media organisations and social media users to uphold professional standards by verifying facts before publishing or sharing information.

“The public and the media are advised to always seek confirmation from credible and official sources to avoid being misled by mischievous purveyors of falsehood,” the statement added.

The Presidency emphasized that President Tinubu continues to work closely with his Chief of Staff and Principal Private Secretary in advancing the administration’s policy objectives and governance agenda